How To Replace A Door Jamb

Occasionally, a door jamb will need to be replaced because it has become damaged with use. The door jamb is an easy to replace home improvement project, but requires a bit of carpentry skills and knowledge.

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Step 1 – Remove Existing Door

Remove the existing door by removing the hinge pins and lifting it off of the hinges. Set the door aside.

Step 2 – Remove Trim Casing

Carefully remove the existing door trim casing. Gently use a flathead screwdriver or small pry bar to work between the casing and the drywall. Start at one place along the trim and then begin slowly loosening the rest of the casing until you have all of the trim free. Set the trim aside so that you can reuse it once the new door jamb is installed.

Step 3 – Pull Existing Door Jamb Free

Pull the existing door jamb loose with the pry bar or screwdriver. Look closely at how the jamb is attached to the door framing. In older homes, the jamb is usually attached with nails. Newer homes have jambs attached with wood screws. Pull the hinge free until you can see how it is attached and then use the power drill to unscrew the wood screws. Otherwise pull the jamb free with the pry bar. Make sure the preserve the side of the door jamb with the hinges attached.

Step 4 – Measure Door Opening for New Jamb

Measure the door opening, including the width and height of the door. Measure from the width from stud to side for the width of the opening and from the bottom of the floor to the height of the bottom of the header for the door height. Also note the location of the hinges on the opening by taking the piece of jamb that you preserved with the hinges on it. Measure to where the center of each hinge is located starting at the top of the jamb piece.

You can purchase a prefabricated door jamb at a local home improvement center or you can have one custom made for very little expense. A custom made jamb is most likely to fit perfectly for your door opening, but you will probably need to wait approximately 24 hours for it to be constructed. If you decide to have a custom made jamb fabricated, take one of the hinges with you to help in the construction. A fabricated door jamb will be in three pieces that you will have to assemble before you can put it in place.

Step 5 – Temporarily Install New Jamb

Once you have the replacement door jamb in one piece, put in into place in the door opening. Temporarily screw the jamb into place on the hinge side first. Slide shims into place along the space between the jamb and the wall.

Step 6 – Level and Plumb

Take the level and check to see that the door is level and adjust the shims as needed. Also take the carpenter square to make sure that the jamb is plumb.

Step 7 – Permanently Affix Jamb in Place

Attach the other pieces of the jamb to the door opening and screw into place.

Step 8 – Attach Hinges/Attach Door

Attach the hinges to the side of the door jamb with screws. Attach the door to the jamb.